Dear friends of ours have been kind enough to share some of their Easter traditions with our family over the years. One of our favorites was when they taught Abby and Maddy how to make sugar eggs. This one was made in 2014, and we still pull them out each year when we decorate for Easter.
We have been patiently waiting for our girls to get a little older before they shared another special tradition with us, mainly because it required the use of fire and hot wax. We decided that this year was the right time for our friends to teach us about the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs, also known as Pysanky.
Pysanky requires a kistka, a special tool, kind of like a hot wax pen, that allows you to write your design on the egg. The wax acts as a barrier and resists the dye that you dip your eggs into as your design evolves. The wax in the kistka must be reheated over a candle flame frequently in order to continue writing on the egg. With each addition to your design, you dip the egg into a new dye color.
The process required an enormous amount of patience and focus (the main reason we waited for the girls to be old enough to participate). Funny enough it was the adults of the group that had the hardest time. I personally dropped two of the many eggs that were accidentally broken that day, while Abby and Maddy successfully completed 6 eggs without a crack.
We learned that there is a movement this year where some museums are encouraging people to make Ukrainian eggs and send them in to be put on display. Later, when the war is over, the eggs will be collected and sent to Ukraine bringing our prayers, hope, and good fortune to the country as it rebuilds. As one of our friends put it, “Our eggs are not museum worthy, but we will send our prayers.”
In the midst of the excitement of spring and the upcoming Easter holiday, this was a fun activity to do together as part of an extended family, and more importantly a way to remember that not everywhere in the world enjoys the peace and stability that we do here in our country. There is a saying that “The more pysanky made in the world, the closer we are to peace.” Hopefully, the pysanky we made together that day will add something positive to the world.
While we are on the subject of eggs, we are excited to bring back another Easter tradition this week. After a three-year hiatus, the Kerby’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt is back. I’ve now lost track of what year we are at, I think it is the 11th officially and would be the 13th if it weren’t for COVID. So, bring the kids out this Saturday for the hunt that starts at 10am sharp with baskets ready to search for eggs hidden among the beautiful plants at the nursery. They won’t be Ukrainian eggs, but they will be filled with fun treats and goodies. As a reminder, the Wheeler Road gate will be closed to allow a little more space for our hunters, so please use the gates along Parsons Avenue to come into the nursery. We will have additional parking available in the field to accommodate all of the families we are excited to see. After the hunt, check out the beautiful flowers of spring. We have had amazing weather over the last few weeks and the plants are drinking it in.
We hope that all of you have a lovely Easter enjoying your traditions. And just a reminder, we will be closed on Sunday to celebrate the holiday with our family and friends. We hope that you get a chance to do the same.
